A 42-year-old woman who died after plunging into a river next to Loch Ness was a holidaymaker from England visiting the Highlands, police confirmed last night.
A major rescue operation was launched when the woman was spotted in the waters of the River Moriston, near Invermoriston, on Thursday afternoon.
She had fallen more than 30ft and was then carried downstream before being pulled from the water.
It is believed she slipped from the Invermoriston Falls into the river while walking her dog.
The woman was flown to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness where she later died.
The alarm was raised at around 1.20pm and a massive rescue operation was launched out involving Loch Ness lifeboat, fire and ambulance crews, local Coastguard and police.
A Coastguard helicopter was also called to the scene alongside ground crews from Cromarty, Inverness and Fort William.
The woman was winched by the helicopter and airlifted to hospital, arriving at around 2.30pm.
A nearby resident said the woman may have slipped which trying to help her dog which had been in difficulty.
The woodland path remained open to tourists as the emergency services dealt with the incident, but a band of yellow police tape was erected at the top of the steep drop.
A Police Scotland spokesman confirmed the woman was a holidaymaker from England. It is believed she was in the Highlands with family members.
He added that the tragedy was being treated as an “accidental death”.
Inspector Murdo Macleod said: “Our thoughts are with the woman’s family and friends at this sad time.
“There are no suspicious circumstances but I would ask anyone who witnessed the incident and hasn’t yet spoken to an officer to call.”
A spokeswoman for Loch Ness RNLI said: “The team wish to extend their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the casualty.”
